Willaims is one of the proud Scottish names to come from the Strathclyde clans of the Scottish/English Borderlands. It is derived from the Norman
personal name William. The name literally was derived from the
patronymic expression
son of William.Early Origins of the Willaims family
The surname Willaims was first found in Peebles, where this predominantly Scottish
Clan held a
family seat anciently, although their interests straddled the English Scottish border and they held territories as far south as Keswick in Cumberland.
Early History of the Willaims family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Willaims research.
Another 261 words (19 lines of text) covering the years 1633, 1701, 1665, 1785, 1690, 1701, 1677, 1780 and are included under the topic Early Willaims History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Willaims Spelling Variations
The many
spelling variations in Medieval Scottish names result from the fact that scribes in that era spelled words according to sound. Translation too, was an undeveloped science, and many names were altered into complete obscurity. Over the years Willaims has been spelled Williamson, Wiliamson, Williamsone and others.
Early Notables of the Willaims family (pre 1700)
Notable amongst the family at this time was Dainty Davie or David Williamson, the ebullient Edinburgh preacher who buried six wives and the seventh buried him; and Sir...
Another 27 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Willaims Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Willaims family to Ireland
Some of the Willaims family moved to
Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 109 words (8 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Willaims family to the New World and Oceana
To escape the uncertainties and discrimination faced in
Scotland, many decided to head out for North America. Once they arrived, many Scots fought with relish in the American War of Independence; some went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. Many ancestors of these Scots have recovered their lost national heritage in the 20th century through
Clan organizations and Scottish historical societies. Among the settlers to North America were: Michael Williamson, who settled in Massachusetts in 1631; James Williamson, who settled in Virginia in 1654 along with Isaac, Richard, Alice, and Ann.